Clutch mechanism for power-transmission gearing and the like



Dec. 2l 1926. 1,611,617,

l. K. TUERCK CLUTCH MECHAN-IS'M FOR POWER TRANSMlSSION GEARING AND THE LIKE l. K, TUERCK CLUTCH MECHANISLI FOB POWER TRANSMlSSION GEARING AND THE LIKE Filed July 14.. 1924 a sheets-sheet a Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

narran STATES PATENT orales,

IO'HAN KONRAD runnen, or PORTLAND, cane-0N.

CLUTCH MECHANISM ron rownn-rnansiurssion onnnrive AND 'rr-rn LIKE.

Application filed July 14,

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clutch mechanism, especially designed and adapted for use in powerl transmission gearing, and it has for its object to provide a mechanism of such construction that by the use of the same in connection with. a power transmission gearing there will be provided a strong, durable, inexpensive and fool-proof mechanism .of such structure that the employment of the usual clutch between the engineshaft and the driving shaft may, if desired, be

dispensed with, therebyreducing the footlabor of the operator since he can effect the shifting of the gears solely by manipulating the gear shifting lever, and he may do this without danger of breaking the gears; other objects a-nd advantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

ln its more detailed natu-re the invention also embodies those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first' fully described, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, referencev being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a power transmitting mechanism embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating a position of one of the shiftable elements, the cone clutch element being shown engaged and the finger-locking action also being` shown.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure Sthe cone clutch element being shown engaged and the finger-lock element being shownV disengaged.

Figure 5 .is a horizontal section taken: on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. i

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line (3*6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the lock lingers.

Figure 8 is adetail elevation of one of the shifting rings.

In the drawings 1 designates an engine shaft which may be coupled with the driving shaft 2 of thepower transmission mechanism in any suitable manner, as by .L male and female coupling indicated at 3 in Figure 1 of thefdrawings.

The driven shaft is-indicated at 4 and is 1924. serial No. 726,037.

adapted to connect with the universal joint l (not shown) when usedina motor vehicle. The forward end of the shaft 4 projects into a recess 5 in 'the' shaft 2 thus having bearing therein, and the other endof the shaft has suitable bearing -as at 6 in the end of the main housing 7.

A driving pinion S is secured onthe shaft 2 and a sleeve 9 has rotatable bearing on that shaft 2 and is hereinafter termed the seoond speed sleeve. Mounted on the second speed sleeve 9 isv another sleeve 10 hereinafter termed the low speed sleeve.

The driving shaft 2 is provided with a lfeniale clutch member 11. The second speedsleeve 9 is also provided with a female clutch member 12 andthe low speed sleeve 10 is vprovided with av female clutch member 13; 1

A gear 14 is keyed on the sleeve 9 and 15 designates a formed on the sleeve 10. A countershaft 161 isprovided and is mounted in bearings 17 and 18 carried by the auxiliary housing 19 and the end wall 20 respectively, sai'd housing being secured to the main' housing as at 211.` Keyed to the coun'- tershaftlare varied sized gears 22 which mesh with the gears 8, 14 and 15 hereinbefore referred to,- and the largest gear 22 meshes with the gear 23 onf the reversing sha-ft 24 having bearing at 25 inthe wall 20 and' at 26 in the housing 7.

Suitable anti-friction hearings 27 Vare in'- terposed between the thrust faces of the several femaleclutch elements 11', 12 and-13 and betweenV the female clutch element 13 and thebearing: facie of the'wall 20, as shown.

The female clutch elements 11', 12 and' lf3 are each provided with 'finger receiving pockets or recesses 28 of which more will be said later.

On the reversing shaft 24 islofcate-d a-pinion` 29 which meshes with the' driven gear 30. The gear 30 is provided with a female clutch face 31 and may be rotatable upon theV bearing .for thel rear- 'end ofv the shaft 4 and yieldably mounted, ifV desired, in the manner indicated.

Longitudinally slidably mounted lon the .shaft 4, but rotatable with the same, is a sleeve 32 on the rear endo'f which is amale clutch element designed to cooperate with theclutchface Blof-the 30 and thereby clutch that gear t'o' turn' with the shaftf 4 when desired (reverse action). In order to ico allow longitudinal movement of the sleeve 32 on the shaft 4 and yet cause the two to rotate together as one, the shaft and sleeve have tongue and groove connections 34. rlhe sleeve 32 is provided with an annular abutment shoulder or flange 35, the purpose of which will presently appear. It is also provided with an enlarged body part 36, the front end of which is coned, as at 37, to con.- stitute the male clutch element which is covered by a suitable band 38 and which is adapted to cooperate with the female clutch member 11.

The body 36 is provided with a plurality of finger receiving bores or pockets 39. The body 36 is also provided with bores 40 which are offset or eccentric to the pockets 39 and through which the locking fingers 41 areadapted to be projected in a manner presently to be described.

The body portion 36 is also provided with a plurality of spring pockets 42 of which more will be said later. The locking lingers 41 each include a substantially flat top surface 43, a circular head 44 and a. cut out portion 45.

The shiftable element for the second speed is designated 4G, and 47 designates the shift-able element for the third speed. The construction of the shiftable elements 46 and 47 is substantially thc same as that of the shiftable element 32, excepting that they are not provided with a clutch member 33. Each of the shiftable elements 46 and 47 is provided with an abutment flange 48 corresponding in purpose and function to the annular' abutment flange 35 hereinbefore referred to.

The numeral 49 indicates the shifting collars or rings, there being one for each shift able element and these rings are shouldered as at 50, to abut the rings 35 and 48 of their respective units. The several shifting menibers 49 are made in two parts, as at 51, and secured together in such manner that they may be mounted over the finger carrying rings 52, the rings 49 having lips 53 to project over the said rings 52.

Suitable anti-friction bearings 54 are provided between the thrust faces of the rings 49 and From each ring 52 there pro jects a set of pins 55 which have shoulders 5G against which the springs 57 abut. Screws 58 passing through the circular heads 44 are tapped into the ends of the pins 55 and forni guides for the fingers, the arrangementbeing such that a limited movement of the fingers on the screws along the direction of their axes may be had against the tension of the springs 57 after the clutch has been applied, as will be more clear hereafter.

Suitable slide rods 59, 60 and 6l may be employed for effecting the high, second and low speed shifting actions respectively. Any suitable means for shifting the rods can tion of the operation of the device imn'iediately following this paragraph.

ln explaining the operation of the device, we will first assume the parts to be in the position indicated in Figure l which is the neutral position for all parts, none of the clutches being engaged. lilith this arrangement, the shaft 4 may remain stationariv while the shaft 2 turns under the power of the engine shaft l. `When it is desired tol throw the mechanism into low gear the operator manipulates such shifting devices as may be provided to shift the proper slide rod and cause movement of the shifting unit 47 to bring its clutch face into engagementv with the clutch face 13.

The first part of the movement of the unit 47 forwardly takes place until the ring 4t) pressing through the medium of the springs in the pockets 42 forces the clutch band 33 of that unit into frictional Contact with the female clutch element i3, by which contact the movement of the shiftab-le member 47 is arrested. Further movement of the ring 49 forwardly causes the fingers 4l of that unit to be pressed against the opposing wall of the clutch member 13 until the poclretf; 2S align with the fingers, whereupon the lingers enter the pockets 28 and locl; tinl parts to the clutched position. The provision of the springs 57 allows sufficient yield to prevent the fingers becoming broken oz damaged and permitting them automaticall;Y to find their places within the recesses 22% and on completion of the forward movement the shoulders 63 engage the heads 44 of the pins and effect a positive holding of the pine in the recesses.

is the action of the other shifting elements for bringing the second and high or third speeds into action is the saine `as that before described, detailed description of each of these functions is deemed uunecessary and is therefore not made.

lVhen it is desired to effect a reversing ac tion the sleeve 32 is, of course, moved in the direction for causing the male and female clutch elements 33 and 3l to frictionallj.' engage.

Attention is called to the fact that by the employment of cone clutches and locking pin devices for each forward speed mechanism, h

lil

come into action.

ale and female clutch smoothly and their speeds brought practically into unison before the locking lingers or pins Conversely, by myV arrangement the looking fingers are withdrawn before the clutching faces are disconnected and further withdrawal movement of the locking fingers results in the disengagement of the clutch faces. This makes the action both smooth and noiseless.

While I have show present invention as us From the foregoing power transmission gearing I n and described my ed in connection with make no claim in this application to such gearing.

description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought that the struction, the manner novel details of conof operation and the advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the What I claim is: l. I

n power transmitting art to which it relates.

mechanism, a

driving shaft and a driven shaft journalled in suitable bearings, slidably mounted a shiftable element on and turning with said driven shaft and having a cone clutch face, a

clutch element on said drivin@ shaft havinO b b a cone face to cooperate with said clutch face, means to shift s aid shiftable element to bring its clutch face into action, said shiftable element including ets extending through a body having pockthe cone clutch face,

lingers slidably mounted in said pockets and adapted to project through the cone clutch face, said driving shaft clutch element having finger recesses,

and means to hold said fingers in a retracted position until the clutch faces of the driving shaft and the shiftable element are engaged.

2. I driving shaft and a in suitable bearings, ably mounted on and en shaft and having a n power transmitting mechanism, a driven shaft journalled a sliiftahle element slidturning with said drivclutch face, a clutch element on said driving shaft to cooperate with said clutch face, shiftable element to b into action, said shifta a `body having gaged, said shiftable friction band, and said means to shift said ring said clutch face ble element including pockets, lingers slidably mounted in said pockets, said clutch element having finger means to hold said fingers in a sition until the clutch elements driving shaft recesses, and retracted poof the driving shaft and the shiftable element are enelement including a fingers when projected being arranged to engage and expand said friction band substan described.

tially as shown and 3. In power transmitting mechanism, a

driving shaft and a driven shaft journalled ing a bearing element mounted on for the other shaft, a shiftable said driven shaft, a

member which includ-es a clutch element mounted on said driving shaft to oppose said shiftable clement and adapted to cooperate with said sliiftable element, means for shifting said shiftable element, said shiftable element including a cone clutch portion and locking fingers, and means for normally holding said locking fingers retracted, said shifting means including a device for shifting said shiftable element first to bring said cone clutch portion into action, and then to .project said fingers, the member which opposes the cone clutch portion and the fingers having cooperating parts for the purposes specified, and said shiftable element having openings through which said fingers may be'projected to engage the cooperating parts of said member which is mounted on said driving shaft.

4. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving and a driven shaft, a female clutch element carried by said driving shaft, a shiftable element mounted to turn without having longitudinal movement on said driven shaft, said shafts being mounted in alignment, said shiftable element comprising a body having a male clutch portion to enter said female element and engage with the saine, said-body having a pull-back fiange, a shifting ring associated with said body and its flange and having limited axial movement along said body, compression springs interposed between said body and ring to tend always to hold said ring against said flange, and means to shift said ring to engage and disengage the clutch elements.

In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving and a driven shaft, a female clutch element carried by said driving shaft, a shiftable velement mounted to turn with but having longitudinal movement on said driven shaft, said shafts being mounted in alignment, said shiftable elements compri sing a body having a male clutch portion-to enter said female element and engage with the same, said body having a puil-back flange, a shift-ing ring associated with said body and its fiange and having limited axial movement along said body, compression springs interposed between said body and ring to tend always to hold said ring against said flange, and means to shift said ring to engage and disengage the clutch elements, a second ring engaged with said first mentioned ring but rotatable with respect thereto, studs carried by said second ring, locking fingers mounted slidably on said studs, springs tending to project the said fingers from said studs, said shiftable element having finger retaining pockets and said female clutch element having locking recesses to receive said fingers.

6. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving and a driven l iii lim shaft, u ieinale clutch element carried by said driving snuit, e sliiitable eleinent mounted to turn with but buying longitudi- .nnl inweinent on seid driven allait, Seid slm-its being nxoened :in alignment, said sliiiiftnble element comprising n body having :t mule clutch portion to enter seid 'einale element and engage with the sinne, seid boe y baring e pnllbeclt tlange, e shitting ring associated with seid body and its Vflange and having limited axel inoveinent along said body, compression springs interposed between said ,-ody end ring to tend always to bold said ri ig egzuns Seid 'iange, and means to shift seid ring to engage and disengnge the clutch elements e second ring engaged with said lirst mentioned ring but rotatable with respect thereto, studs carried by seid second ring, locking lingers mounted slidebly on seid studs, springs tending to project the said fingers 'from seid studs, said shiiztnble element having linger retaining pockets und seid feinele clutcn eleinent naving locking recesses to receive seid fingers, clutch portion comprising e friction bui l and said lingers when projected bav- `1 provision to engage and expend said friction bend substantially es shown and de ed.

in power transmitting mechanism, tbe combination with e driving and n driven slmi't, :L 'fer-nele clutch element carried by Seid driving shaft, u sliiitable element inounted to tnrn with but lizwing longitudinal inoveinent on said driven shaft, seid shafts being` inounted in alignment, said sbiiiteble element comprising et 'body having :i infile clnteliportion to enter seid i-'einaie element and engage the saine, said body lime ing e pull-back flange, a shifting ring assoeinted with said body and its flange and having lnnited :unal inoveinent along said body, conipression springs interposed between said body and ring to tend :1l-,reys to bold seid ring against si d iinnge, and ineens to sliiit .ie-Ld ring to engere and disengege tire clutch elen'ients, e, Second ring engaged with seid irst mentioned ring but rotatable with respect thereto, studs carried by said second ring, locking ingcrs mounted sldably on said l" springs tending to gro ject the said studs,

lingers 'i'roni seid studs,l seid sbifteble element having linger retaining pockets sind seid te ine' locking rece nele cluteli clement nr smid innlc clutch portion ('ffinprising :in er1:- pzinsibie ineniber erupted to be eipinded when said lingers nre tuiliy es slifiwn nud d S. in power trenes' drivin dri von in su ble been e slii .tif body 4 ably mounted on and turning with scid driven sbot, end including a cone-clutch tace, a ciutc'i eleinent on seid driving sliegi: having corre-clutch ieee to project over J. n 'j' s the cone-clutch ieee of the slnrtablc eieinc-nt, en expanding bund on the cone-cluteli 1 l o'i the slii'iftztble clement, seid slili'te il element inelndi n body with pocknngers slidnbly ted in seid poel'- e s, seil poeliets intersecting tbe eene-clutch 'luce oit reid shirt-able elcn'ient, whereby when seid ling; is :we projected they will expune the band into engnglgient with tbe opposing clnt'eli element, i sli'ifti ring lnounted on tbe slidible elenent, seid sl able element having recesses ed in seid recesses to ong ring to bold tbe lingers yieldable connection sind shitting ring.

seid shifting .ritbfrlrmvn, :ind n between lingers and IOHAN KONRAD TUERCK. 

